Tag: Najee Harris

Sep 15, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) hands the ball off to Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Chargers RB Najee Harris carted off with leg injury vs. Broncos

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris was carted off the field during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos with a lower left leg injury.

Harris sustained the injury when he planted his left leg into the artificial surface while in the backfield then fell to the ground in a non-contact injury. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game coming out of halftime.

Harris had six carries for 28 yards in the game, with the 27-year-old gaining 61 yards on 15 carries in three games of his first season with the Chargers. He also has three receptions for 25 yards this season.

In five career seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-24) and Chargers, he has 4,373 yards on 1,212 carries with 28 touchdowns. He also has 183 receptions for 1,174 yards and six TDs.

Harris was a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season of 2021 after he was a first-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Alabama.

–Field Level Media

May 20, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) catches the ball during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chargers RB Najee Harris ‘ready to go’ vs. Chiefs

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Chargers running back Najee Harris completed another practice and will play when Los Angeles opens the season in Brazil on Friday night.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh plans to use Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton in tandem, but wouldn’t get into a pecking order or snap count plans two days before the Week 1 international game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“He says he’s ready, and he looks ready to go,” Harbaugh said. “Those are really hard to predict, play counts and things of that nature. Get in there, play football and have at it. That’s kind of the mindset. Not kind of, that is the mindset.”

Harris will wear a visor to protect what he described as a “superficial” eye injury. Harris was hurt in a fireworks mishap on July 4 and only last week was activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List to be added to the 53-man roster.

Harris said in August he would focus on getting back into football shape and let the timeshare in the backfield play out.

“I am feeling good, though, and we’ll just see where it leads,” he said.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team after that season.

Hampton was the 22nd pick in the 2025 draft in April after two All-American seasons at North Carolina. He produced 38.5 percent of North Carolina’s total offense — 2,033 yards from scrimmage — in 2024, and finished his college career with 36 rushing touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

May 20, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) catches the ball during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chargers RB Najee Harris (eye) cleared for contact, may play Week 1

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The Los Angeles Chargers have cleared running back Najee Harris for contact and “there’s a possibility” he will be available to play in Week 1 following a July 4 eye injury, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.

“He’s looked really good in practice,” Harbaugh said at a press conference. “Cleared for contact. Just take it one day at a time.”

The Chargers open the season Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If Harris can’t play, then first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton is expected to tote the majority of carries.

Harris missed the start of training camp and didn’t begin participating in football drills until mid-August. He didn’t play in the preseason, but was activated from the non-football injury list last Tuesday.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back suffered what his agent described as a “superficial eye injury” during a July 4 fireworks mishap. The Chargers haven’t disclosed further details about the injury.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team after that season.

–Field Level Media

May 20, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) catches the ball during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Chargers elevate RB Najee Harris (eye) from non-football injury list

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The Los Angeles Chargers are activating running back Najee Harris from the non-football injury list, the NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

Harris missed the start of training camp as he recovers from an offseason eye injury. He was limited to conditioning work before increasing his participation in football drills, starting Aug. 12. He did not play in the preseason.

Harris, 27, has been on the non-football injury list since the start of camp after sustaining what his agent, Doug Hendrickson, described as a “superficial eye injury” during a July 4 fireworks mishap. The Chargers have not disclosed details of the injury, in line with head coach Jim Harbaugh’s practice of withholding specifics during the preseason.

The Chargers open the season Sept. 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil.

If Harris remained on the NFI list when rosters are finalized, he would be forced to miss the first four games. Coming off the list and practicing starts a three-week window to make the active roster. If he’s not moved to the roster, he has to stay on the NFI list for the rest of the season.

Harris signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Chargers in the offseason, which could be worth up to an additional $4 million if he meets all incentives for rushing yardage. Harris and first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) are expected to be the team’s primary ball carriers.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team that season. He became a free agent after the 2024 season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Reports: Chargers sign RB Najee Harris to 1-year deal

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The Los Angeles Chargers are signing running back Najee Harris to a one-year deal worth up to $9.25 million, per NFL Network and ESPN.

Harris was a 2021 first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rushed for 1,000+ yards in each of his first four NFL seasons, becoming only the 14th player in league history to accomplish that feat and the first since the Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson in 2011.

Last season, Harris rushed for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 36 receptions for 283 yards. He broke 22 tackles, which was tied for eighth-most in the NFL.

The 27-year-old averaged a pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry. However, Pittsburgh’s offensive line finished 18th in run block win rate.

The Chargers are overhauling the running back position. Last offseason, they signed former Baltimore Ravens running back duo JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards. In 2024, Dobbins posted 195 carries for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games, while Edwards had 365 rushing yards and four touchdowns over 101 carries.

On Friday, the Chargers released Edwards. Dobbins is an unrestricted free agent.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) gains yardage down the sidelines against the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Steelers RB Najee Harris (ribs) misses practice

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Pittsburgh Steelers starting running back Najee Harris missed practice Wednesday with a rib injury.

Fellow RB Cordarrelle Patterson also missed practice with an ankle injury.

Harris, 26, is coming off his best game of the season last week. He eclipsed 100 yards for the first time, rushing for 7.6 yards per carry and scoring his first touchdown of the campaign in a 32-13 win over Las Vegas. He finished with 106 yards rushing and 16 yards receiving.

Harris has rushed for 376 yards in six starts. He also has 14 catches for 135 yards on the season.

Jaylen Warren has rushed for just 61 yards in four games (no starts). Patterson has rushed for 92 yards in four games (one start).

Other Steelers who missed practice with injuries include safety Damontae Kazee (ankle), edge rusher Nick Herbig (hamstring) and center Zach Frazier (ankle).

The Steelers (4-2) host the New York Jets (2-4) on Sunday night.

–Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) finds running room against he Bills. Harris ruched for only 37 yards.

Reports: Steelers decline RB Najee Harris’ fifth-year option

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have declined to pick up the fifth-year team option for running back Najee Harris in 2025, according to multiple media reports Thursday.

Harris, 26, was projected to cost the team $6.7 million in guaranteed money. A Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2021, he is the first player in Steelers history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.

Thursday was the deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for first-round draft picks in 2021. As expected, Pittsburgh also declined the option for quarterback Justin Fields — obtained in an offseason trade from the Chicago Bears — that would have paid him a guaranteed $25 million in 2025.

The Steelers could be waiting to see how Harris plays in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense while being open to working a new contract, according to an NFL Network report. His original rookie contract is worth $13 million over four years, including $2.4 million in 2024.

The 24th overall pick out of Alabama in 2021, Harris has started all 51 games he’s played and rushed 834 times for 3,269 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also has 144 receptions for 866 yards and six TDs.

Last season, Harris had a career-low 255 attempts for 1,035 yards, making for a career-best 4.1 yards per carry. He played a career-low 53 percent of offensive snaps in 2023, compared to 84 percent when he made the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks at a Ring of Honor induction ceremony for Tarik Glenn on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, during a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Max Gersh/IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports

Colts’ Jim Irsay claims RB take not ‘directed at’ Jonathan Taylor

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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay claimed social media comments he made regarding the diminished market for NFL running backs were not directed at his team’s All-Pro back, Jonathan Taylor.

Irsay’s most recent comments on Thursday came one day after he took aim at Najee Harris following the Pittsburgh Steelers star saying the league’s top running backs were discussing the idea of altering the way salaries of franchise-tagged players are determined in a bid to make top-tier money. Irsay dismissed the notion, saying “some (a)gents are selling ‘bad faith.’”

Irsay’s comment drew the ire of Taylor’s agent Malki Kawa, who tweeted: “Bad faith is not paying your top offensive player.”

“The comment wasn’t really directed at Jonathan,” Irsay told ESPN. “We haven’t exchanged any contract numbers with each other or anything like that. So, it’s not like we’re in the midst of that. I think we had a tough season last year. Didn’t win a lot of games. This is a year about coming back together and having a great year and we’re really depending on Jonathan to team up with (quarterback) Anthony Richardson to try and pull together to have a great year.”

Taylor, 24. is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract.

He has rushed for 3,841 yards in his career — including a league-leading 1,811 in 2021, when he was selected to the All-Pro team.

Taylor has a career 4,643 yards from scrimmage to go with 36 touchdowns since being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Aug 28, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) runs against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers RB Najee Harris (foot) says he’s playing Sunday

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris said a foot injury he sustained in Sunday’s season-opening victory isn’t serious and he intends to play in Week 2 against the New England Patriots.

Speaking with SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, Harris said the injury is “nothing too crazy.”

“I’ll be back at practice this week. And then I will be playing this weekend,” Harris said.

Harris limped off the field late in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime win in Cincinnati.

Harris had 23 rushing yards on 10 carries but also caught two passes, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

The 24-year-old Harris was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 after the Steelers selected him in the first round of the draft from Alabama. He played in all 17 games and ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three scores.

In other injury news, the Steelers worked out linebacker Ryan Anderson on Tuesday with star T.J. Watt likely headed for injured reserve, NFL Network reported.

Anderson, 28, was a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2017 and played four seasons with Washington (2017-20).

He signed with the New York Giants in March 2021 but was released after being suspended six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Anderson registered 86 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, six sacks and five forced fumbles in 52 games (four starts) with Washington.

Watt, the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is out indefinitely after tearing a pectoral muscle during Sunday’s season-opening win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the third quarter of a Week 1 NFL football game at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers LB T.J. Watt (pec) might put off surgery; RB could also miss time

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Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt is contemplating non-surgical rehab for a torn pectoral muscle suffered in Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watt, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, had an interception and a sack before leaving the eventual Steelers’ win.

NFL Network reported Watt has discussed the injury with his older brother, J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals, who had surgery for a similar injury in his 10th NFL season but returned sooner than expected. J.J. Watt said he felt great eight weeks post-surgery.

The normal recovery time from the surgical corrective operation is three months, a projection that would imply T.J. Watt wouldn’t return until December.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin plans to update Watt’s status later this week. The Steelers are also uncertain whether running back Najee Harris (foot) can play this week.

A timetable for his return from an injury that could be connected to a Lisfranc sprain during training camp won’t be established until further testing is completed, per multiple reports. The initial report from the team on Sunday was Harris left with an ankle injury.

Harris had 23 rushing yards on 10 carries but also caught two passes, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Chase Claypool finished the game as Pittsburgh’s leading rusher with 36 yards on six carries.

Undrafted rookie backup running back Jaylen Warren gained seven yards on three carries.

–Field Level Media